Meyer Picks Up Individual Meet Title At WUSTL Early Bird

ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Meyer (Bonnot's Mill, Mo.) opened the 2012 season with a statement run for the William Woods University men's cross country team, capturing the individual meet title as the WUSTL Early Bird on Saturday. The senior's time of 19:07.2 was 11 seconds faster than the nearest competitor and helped the Owls to a 10th-place overall finish.

The Owls men finished second among NAIA squads competing in the meet, with just five points separating them from Georgetown College. WWU finished with a six-point cushion over Union University, and more than 100 points clear of AMC foe Missouri Baptist University.

Individually, Reid Schmit (Noel, Mo.), Jacob Grass (Saint Mary, Mo.) and Zach Bryant (Russellville, Mo.) all posted better than a 6:00/mile pace for the event. Schmit finished with a time of 21:35 over the 6K, with Grass posting a time of 21:44 and Bryant finishing in 21:57.

Jordan Fleming (Columbia, Mo.) was the final scoring runner for the Owls with a time of 22:53, with Tyler Jones (Lathrop, Mo.) rounding out the roster with a time of 24:04.

The Owls are back in action in two weeks, as they will compete in the First To The Finish Southern Stampede hosted by Missouri Southern State University. WWU is set for an 8 a.m. start in Joplin on September 15.